On This Day: Steve Smith’s Masterclass Seals Australia’s 3-0 ODI Series Sweep Against New Zealand

The day, however, was not just about farewells. Steven Smith stole the limelight with a brilliant innings, guiding the Australian team out of a challenging situation. His composure and masterful stroke play turned the game around, ultimately leading Australia to a hard-fought victory. Fans witnessed both an emotional goodbye and a spectacular display of cricketing brilliance, making the day truly unforgettable.

Australia vs New Zealand: 11th September 2022

The last match of the Australia-New Zealand ODI series, played on September 11, 2022, at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, was a gripping day-night affair. New Zealand won the toss and sent Australia in to bat, hoping to exploit early conditions. Australia responded with a solid 267 for 5 in their 50 overs, built on a brilliant century by Steven Smith, steady contributions from Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, and a late burst from Cameron Green. The innings had its shaky moments, but the hosts pulled through with smart batting and a strong finish.

Australia’s openers, Josh Inglis and Aaron Finch, walked out to face Trent Boult and Tim Southee, two of New Zealand’s best. Inglis looked comfortable early on, cracking a crisp boundary to get his 10 runs off 16 balls. But Boult got him in the fifth over, inducing an edge that Tom Latham pouched behind the stumps. Finch, leading the side, was next to go, bowled by Southee for just 5 off 13 balls in the sixth over. He couldn’t get going, and Australia were wobbling at 16 for 2. The Kiwi bowlers were on point, swinging the ball and keeping the pressure on.

Steven Smith, the man for a crisis, came in at three and took charge. He was joined by Marnus Labuschagne, and the pair got to work rebuilding. They put on 118 runs for the third wicket over 168 balls, a partnership that turned the innings around. Smith was all class, flicking and driving with ease, reaching his fifty off 81 balls with five boundaries. He played the anchor role perfectly, picking singles and punishing anything loose. Labuschagne was just as solid, scoring 52 off 78 balls with two fours, rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard moving.

Their stand ended in the 34th over when Labuschagne tried to up the pace and was caught by Boult off Lockie Ferguson’s bowling, leaving Australia at 134 for 3. Alex Carey came in next, playing second fiddle to Smith, who was in full flow. Smith reached his hundred off 127 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, showing why he’s one of the best in the game. He mixed caution with aggression, guiding Australia past 200. The fourth-wicket stand with Carey added 69 runs in 63 balls, but Smith fell in the 45th over, bowled by Mitchell Santner for 105 off 131 balls.

Glenn Maxwell didn’t stick around long, blasting 14 off 8 balls, including a six, before holing out to Santner off Boult in the 47th over. That brought Cameron Green to the crease, and he lit up the final overs. Green smashed an unbeaten 25 off 12 balls, with two fours and two sixes, while Carey stayed not out on 42 off 43 balls, hitting three boundaries. Their late charge pushed Australia to 267 for 5, with 14 extras, 5 leg byes, 1 no-ball, and 8 wides, helping the cause.

New Zealand’s bowlers gave it their all. Boult was the standout, taking 2 for 25 in 10 overs, including four maidens, and keeping things tight. Southee picked up 1 for 57, while Ferguson got 1 for 56. Santner chipped in with 1 for 52, but James Neesham had a tough day, going for 65 in 8 overs without a wicket. Daryl Mitchell bowled a couple of overs for 7 runs. The Kiwis were sharp in the first 10 overs, giving away just 19 runs for two wickets.

Overs 11 to 40 saw Australia score 157 for 1, and the final 10 overs brought 91 for 2. New Zealand tried a review against Finch in the fourth over, but it didn’t go their way. Australia hit milestones at 50 in the 19th over, 100 in the 30th, 150 in the 37th, 200 in the 44th, and 250 in the 49th. Smith’s knock earned him Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his 167 runs in the series.

New Zealand’s chase of 268 started with promise but fell apart against Australia’s bowlers, ending at 242 all out in 49.5 overs, 25 runs short. The top order got starts, and the middle order fought hard, but they couldn’t find the one big knock needed to get over the line, handing Australia a 3-0 series sweep. Finn Allen and Devon Conway opened with intent, racing to 49 in 52 balls. Allen was in attacking mode, smashing 35 off 38 balls with five fours and a six, while Conway stroked five boundaries in his 21 off 26 balls. But Sean Abbott broke through in the ninth over, getting Conway caught by Steven Smith. Allen fell in the 12th over, caught by Josh Hazlewood off Cameron Green, leaving New Zealand at 57 for 2.

Kane Williamson, the captain, and Tom Latham tried to steady things. Williamson battled for 27 off 56 balls, hitting just one four, while Latham made 10 off 15. Their 20-run stand ended in the 18th over when Latham was stumped by Alex Carey off Adam Zampa’s spin. Daryl Mitchell came in, scoring 16 off 23 with two fours, adding 29 runs with Williamson before Hazlewood had him caught by Smith in the 25th over. Williamson’s gritty knock ended in the 28th over when a sharp throw from Marnus Labuschagne ran him out, leaving New Zealand struggling at 112 for 5.

Glenn Phillips and James Neesham gave the chase some life with a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket off 58 balls. Phillips played a gutsy 47 off 53 balls, with two fours and two sixes, while Neesham hit 36 off 34, including five boundaries. Neesham fell in the 38th over, caught by Smith off Green. Phillips then teamed up with Mitchell Santner for a 51-run seventh-wicket partnership in 50 balls. Santner scored 30 off 33, with two fours and a six. But the momentum slipped when Phillips was caught by Abbott off Mitchell Starc in the 46th over, with the score at 224 for 7.

Santner followed in the 47th, caught by Green off Abbott. Tim Southee hung around, finishing unbeaten on 8 off 9 with one four, but Lockie Ferguson could only manage 4 off 11 before Starc bowled him in the 50th over. Trent Boult was caught by Labuschagne off Starc’s next ball, ending the innings at 242. Extras added 8 runs with 4 leg byes and 4 wides. Australia’s bowlers were relentless.

Starc led the way with 3 for 60 in 9.5 overs, striking late to seal the deal. Hazlewood took 1 for 51 in 10 overs, Green grabbed 2 for 25 in 6, Abbott was tight with 2 for 31 in 10, including three maidens, Zampa got 1 for 53 in 10, and Maxwell bowled 4 overs for 18. New Zealand scored 56 for 1 in the first 10 overs, 129 for 5 from overs 11 to 40, and 57 for 4 in the last stretch but failed to get over the line.